Nightingale’s Bridge and Hilly Fields

 A group of seven volunteers assembled at Nightingale’s Bridge on an overcast afternoon which fortunately did not result in any significant rain. We first tackled a big clump on top of the river bank along Hilly Fields just upstream from the bridge. To access we had to climb through the wooden fence and then negotiate the fairly narrow bank but we managed to clear all but a few plants which were too close to a wasp’s nest for comfort.

We then split into two groups with one going across the river and upstream towards Parsonage Bridge while the other worked along the edge of Hilly Fields clearing small clumps amongst the bushes and then the area in the corner of Hilly Fields where the plants were fairly large but the quantity was not too bad compared to previous years.

Some of us then joined the group on the other side of the river and finished clearing up to the edge of Bridge House grounds. This side of the river seems a lot worse than it has for a few years.

Glebelands July 2024

There was a lot of balsam flowering along Meadow Mead and Glebelands and a lot more on the riverbank just downstream from Bridge House. We split into two groups to tackle each area. In Meadow Mead and Glebelands we concentrated on those areas which would be more difficult to reach with a brush cutter which is scheduled to be used in a couple of days. We were able to clear most of the ones which required access via the river bed or scrambling through the undergrowth.

The riverbank along Meadow Mead is becoming more overgrown with fallen branches, willows, blackthorn and brambles. However it’s still possible to access with a bit of scrambling either from the river bed or from Meadow Mead.

The river level was fairly low but care was needed if wearing wellies as there were a few areas above knee deep.

Clump below Church Road bridge 

After clearing 

On the riverbank along Meadow Mead

Black Rocks to Cogmill- July 2024

 We’ve been a bit late starting with balsam clearing this year partly due to the wet spring which led to muddy paths and high water levels in May. As a result the balsam is growing strongly in many places.

A group of six of us walked upstream to Black Rocks where two stayed to clear what at first sight looked like a smallish quantity but turned into a large number mainly along the edge of the river downstream.

The rest of the group continued up to the small islands which had been partially cleared a few days ago. After finishing clearing that area we moved further upstream where a lot of balsam was growing amongst the undergrowth. Some barbed wire had to be negotiated to get to all of it but we  managed to clear a lot before heading back downstream. Again we had to negotiate some barbed wire to access some areas on the east bank where we cleared a lot including on the field edge though a lot still remains. 

Black Rocks to Cogmill June 2023

There hasn’t been much rain for the past few weeks so the river level is fairly low making wading relatively easy. We walked up to the little islands between Black Rocks and Cogmill and cleared a lot of balsam from the islands and from the opposite bank. Fresh barbed wire prevented us from reaching more balsam along the edge of the fields.

Before

After

The balsam is getting to be quite tall and the first flowers are starting to appear.

On the way back we found a few isolated plants along the path and at the corner of the recently cleared area downstream from Black Rocks, we found a large clump in the undergrowth which we managed to clear.

Black Rocks June 2023

At first sight there seemed to be very little balsam at Black Rocks but when we explored further we found rather a lot in the undergrowth and particularly under fallen trees. Many plants were very small which reinforces the impression that the balsam is appearing a little late this year.

Meadow Mead June 2023

Although there wasn’t a great deal of balsam immediately visible we decided to have a look in the undergrowth on the riverbank along Meadow Mead. The corner near Parsonage Bridge is normally quite bad but only had a few dozen plants scattered amongst the nettles. At the grassy area in the middle, there were very few plants.

We cut some paths into the undergrowth towards Church Road bridge. Again we only found a few dozen balsam along the banks.

We finished by heading back along Glebelands. Frampton Nature Group had cleared balsam along here just over a week ago but we managed to find and clear a few more among the nettles.

 

Survey 2023

Late April/early May was quite cool and wet with high water levels which seems to have killed off some early seedlings of Himalayan Balsam.

Spring blossom and high water levels at Meadow Mead 

Seedlings in mid April

Casual observation during May along the Frome suggested that balsam was not reappearing in large quantities and this was borne out by my survey on 2 June. Although a few plants were visible at various places from Nightingale’s Bridge to Cogmill there were no very big clumps obviously visible. Even at the corner of Hilly Fields which normally has a lot of balsam there was little sign of it among the nettles.

At Black Rocks there’s a freshly fallen branch which makes access to balsam along the river edge more difficult. Upstream from Black Rocks, there seems to be a number of balsam growing on the far bank.

Meadow Mead revisited

It was forecast to be a very hot day so we met a little earlier at 9:00 at Meadow Mead. Fortunately it stayed cloudy which kept the temperature at a relatively comfortable level. A group of 7 volunteers turned at Meadow Mead which helped to cover a large area of the river between Parsonage and Church Road bridges.  Our main objective was to clear some large clumps in areas difficult to access because they were low down on the river bank and only accessible through dense undergrowth. However we managed to cut a way through and to scramble down the riverbank to clear them.

We also cleared more plants low down on the riverbank which were not immediately visible from the path and a few stragglers in areas we’d previously cleared.

July survey

 I went for a stroll from Nightingale’s Bridge to Cogmill to assess the balsam situation after our activities in June. On the mud banks at the bridge there were a few balsam which I cleared but upstream there were some large clumps on the riverbanks and low down near the river which were difficult to access without waders or slashers.

Along Glebelands there were a few plants some of which I was able to clear from amongst the nettles. There were some large clumps on the other side of the river which we’d previously not been able to access but may be possible with the river level as low as it is currently.

Further upstream, there were a few plants at Black Rocks and I think I could see a few further upstream on the far bank and the little islands.

Large clumps of balsam always grow by the Church Road bridge and scattered throughout the undergrowth on the Meadow Mead side of the river opposite the community orchard. When river levels are low, these areas can be reached from the river bed though care must be taken to avoid deep spots and the bank can be a bit tricky to climb in places. It’s also possible to cut a way down from Meadow Mead though fallen branches and occasionally dumped garden waste can make it hard work. Despite these challenges, on a very warm Midsummer’s Day we cleared the riverbanks by the community orchard then returned to wade up the river to access the big clump by the bridge. The balsam was fairly tall and a few flowers were starting to appear.

Looking downriver from the bridge

Balsam cleared by Church Road bridge 

Nightingale’s Bridge and Hilly Fields

We met at Nightingale’s Bridge where balsam could be seen growing on the mud banks on both sides of the river and on the bank just upstream from the bridge.  The water level was low so it was easy to cross the river to reach a large clump on the east bank where access has been made more difficult by a new barbed wire fence.

The edges of Hilly Fields remain mostly clear of balsam after we cleared it a few years ago so we  crossed to the far corner where we always find balsam. It was not as bad as the first time we visited this area but there was still a lot of tall balsam growing amongst dense nettles. 

On the way back to the bridge we stopped at a place where we’d seen a few balsam growing on the river bank behind the fence. As usual there turned out to be a lot more when we looked more closely so we finished our morning session by clearing those. 

Black Rocks and beyond - June 7th

A group of five volunteers walked upstream from St Peter’s Church to Black Rocks where the few scattered plants seen a couple of weeks ago were revealed to be accompanied by many more hidden in the undergrowth and along the riverbank. Fortunately the river level was low so we were able to reach most of them with a bit of wading and a bit of scrambling over and under fallen branches.   

After clearing this area, we continued upstream toward the little islands in the river, clearing a few small plants on the near bank and some larger ones across the river on the way.  The islands themselves were very overgrown with a variety of plants including balsam and there were some dams created by fallen trees which had also become home for balsam. We were able to clear the majority of these.

Water crowsfoot growing in the river at Black Rocks 

Meadow Mead and Glebelands - 31st May

There was a heavy shower early in the morning but the day brightened so we went ahead with our planned session while taking a little more care on the riverbanks and in the wet undergrowth. Four volunteers turned up and we started at Meadow Mead where there was some balsam visible and a lot more in the undergrowth and on the river bank.  

Meadow Mead - By the river and under a fallen willow

After clearing that we moved on to Parsonage Bridge where there was a large clump on the east bank. We were able to access it both through the undergrowth along Meadow Mead and by wading across from the opposite bank although a large fallen branch across the river has made access a bit more difficult.

At Parsonage Bridge 

We also cleared some of the balsam growing along Glebelands where there were signs that other people had been pulling balsam as they walked along the river.

Balsam Survey May 2022

 I walked along the river from Cogmill to Nightingale’s Bridge to assess the balsam situation this year. The Frome Valley Walkway was very picturesque in the spring sunshine.

There was balsam visible in a number of places, notably at Black Rocks, Church Road bridge, Glebelands, Parsonage Bridge and Nightingale’s Bridge. There’s undoubtedly more balsam hiding in the undergrowth which is not yet visible.

Black Rocks

Nightingale’s Bridge 

Field behind St Peter's Church

Last year the field behind St Peter's Church was relatively clear of balsam so we didn't bother clearing it. In retrospect this might have been a mistake as this year it was quite badly infested again. The area near the gate was worst and there were a couple of clumps near to the churchyard but the far end of the field was reasonably clear apart from some large plants low down on the river bank.

Before clearing

Since it was quite late in the season we just went in with slashers and cut the balsam down rather than pulling it up.

Although some seed pods were popping, we didn't see any which had fully ripened so hopefully we'll have done enough to reduce the level of infestation again.

After clearing

Iron Acton 2019

Despite recent rain, the river at Iron Acton was only a little higher than usual at this time of year.

I joined a group of volunteers from Iron Acton and we worked our way upstream from the bridge at Frampton End Road. There was a scattering of balsam all the way along and some big patches on the field edge on the opposite bank.

Dog walkers also told us of some big patches further upstream but unfortunately it started to rain fairly heavily so we decided to call a premature halt. However we managed to clear a good stretch before we finished.

Balsam survey - Saturday 20 July

During our session on Thursday we were able to wade in the river quite comfortably. However after Friday's rain it had risen by at least six inches on Saturday and was flowing quite fast in places.  The normally tranquil waters at Black Rocks had turned into a raging torrent!

Hopefully it'll be equally quick to drop back again.

There are still a few balsam between Parsonage Bridge and Church Road, mostly in the undergrowth on the Meadow Mead side of the river. I would estimate a couple of people could clear it in an hour though wading and/or cutting through the undergrowth would be necessary.

Heading up stream, there were a few stragglers around Black Rocks some of which I cleared. This area has got progressively better over the years and there's just a handful of plants appearing there now. Further upstream there are some really tall plants on the opposite bank and just beyond the metal footbridge at Cogmill there are quite a lot.

Some of those growing in the open are starting to produce seeds so it'd be good to clear those as soon as possible.

Hacking through the undergrowth - Meadow Mead

Starting early to avoid the heat, Andrew and I cleared the undergrowth along Meadow Mead downstream from the Church Road bridge. After heavy rain a few days ago the river level had risen but had since fallen back though it was still deep in a few places and required a certain amount of care.

There weren't very many balsam plants but they were either tangled in bindweed, surrounded by nettles, lurking low down on the river bank or required hacking through the undergrowth to reach. However we managed to clear the majority before the heat started to get the better of us.

On the way back to the car, we had a look at the field behind St Peter's Church. Somewhat depressingly, it was quite bad. We didn't clear this are last year as it had been getting progressively better and the resident horses seemed to be keeping it under control either by grazing or trampling.

Parsonage Bridge to Nightingale Bridge

At this time of year balsam is pushing up above the nettles and producing its distinctive pink flowers making it easier to spot. We started just upstream of Parsonage Bridge where there was a small clump of very tall balsam growing.

We then worked our way through Bridge House, clearing balsam on both sides of the river. The steep banks make access a bit difficult but with some of us on the bank and some working from the river bed we were able to clear this area, stopping only to admire the large purple loosestrife happily growing on a mudbank without competition from balsam.

Purple loosestrife on a mudbank

Led by the intrepid Andrew, we crossed the river to the corner of Hilly Fields where we quickly cleared a largish clump of balsam.

We then headed across the field to Nightingale's Bridge clearing the odd balsam growing on the field edge and one clump in amongst the bushes on the river bank. Just upstream from Nightingale's Bridge the bank is quite steep but with a bit of care on the bank and the river bed we were also able to clear this area.

There were a few plants just downstream from Nightingale's Bridge which we cleared before making our way back, clearing a few more plants which had escaped our attention earlier. We also spotted dozens of red soldier beetles on the hogweed plants along the field edge.